Method and apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube is disclosed. The tube is attached to a frame and a force moves a push rod away from the frame and presses rollers against the each side of the squeeze tube. The disclosed apparatus is adapted to dispense materials from tubes having a assortment of sizes and holding materials of variety of viscosities.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube in such a way that the material flows from the tube in an even and continuous manner.

RELATED ART

Squeeze tubes serve as material dispensers and may contain a variety of materials including, for example, tooth paste, calking compounds, RTV silicone gasket maker, epoxy components and other somewhat viscous materials. Material is forced from such tubes when pressure is applied to the sides of the tube. In general, such tubes have less capacity (volume) than a non-squeezable calking tube commonly used to dispense material from a calking gun. A calking tube is usually made of cardboard, composite fibers, plastic or similar materials and is generally round and for all intents and purposes non-deformable. The interior diameter of a calking tube is dimensioned to accept the plunger of a calking gun and the plunger, when pushed, forces material out of the dispensing end of the calking tube.

The types of materials typically contained in squeeze tubes are generally more expensive and used in smaller quantities than the materials in calking tubes. For example, only a small quantity of RTV silicone gasket maker is required to form a typical gasket needed when mounting a flange to a motor block. Some glues and epoxies are also dispenses from squeeze tubes. In general, squeeze tubes are designed to respond to pressure from a user's hand(s) thereby forcing the contained materials out of the dispensing end of the tube. In general, the material to be dispensed must have a suitable viscosity and the tube is generally sized to be used by persons having a variety of physical characteristics (strength, size of hand, etc.). It would be desirable if an apparatus were available to assist a user dispensing material from a squeeze tube, such an apparatus could provide a mechanical advantage to the user and also be adapted to hold tubes of a variety of sizes. Further, it would be desirable if such an apparatus could dispense material from a tube in a smooth and consistent manner and thereby be capable of providing an even bead of material.

During manufacturing, dispensable material is normally injected into an open end of a squeeze tube. After the tube is filled with a desired amount of material, the open end or proximal end is typically sealed by crimping a tube-width channel, such as a U-shaped strip of metal, over the open end of the tube. The dispensing end or distal end of the tube is usually sealed with a screw-on cap and may also have an inner seal that must be punctured before material can be dispensed. A tube of toothpaste is filled at one end and dispensed at the other, but the toothpaste tube typically doesn't have an inner seal. An epoxy mixture typically comes in two tubes where each tube has an inner seal and each tube contains a different material. When equal amounts of each material of the epoxy mixture are dispensed and mixed, an epoxy bonding material is formed. Because of the quantity and assortment of squeeze tubes, it would be desirable to have an apparatus that would function to more effectively dispense materials from the variety of tubes that serve as dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Generally, the present disclosure describes a novel apparatus and method for dispensing material from a squeeze tube. Several embodiments are described in the detailed description. An example of one of the embodiments is given below.

An exemplary apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube has a frame for holding one end of a squeeze tube and a force is provided by a user who squeezes a trigger of a squeeze handle. The force urges a push rod forward and transfers the force to rollers located on each side of the tube, thereby providing enough pressure on each side of the tube to force material from the dispensing end of the tube.

Various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention and protected by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 1B is a top view of the diagram of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 illustrates details of an embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 illustrates additional details of the embodiment of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the retainer of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates details of a roller holder and the rollers of an embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method embodiment of the dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Because the novel and patentable features of the present invention can be shown with block and other diagrams, conventional elements and know elements are shown only to illustrate the novelty of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art could readily understand the diagrams illustrating embodiments of the present invention. The diagrams show specific details that are pertinent to the present invention and do not obscure the disclosure with details that would readily be apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the concept dispensing material from a squeeze tube in accordance with the present disclosure. The dispensing apparatus 100 comprises a frame 102 coupled to an arrangement of elements that force material from the distal end 152 of squeeze tube 150. A proximal end 154 of tube 150 is attached to the frame 102 by a retainer 114. A squeeze handle 112, having a grip 108 and a trigger 110, is coupled to the frame 102 and is available to supply a force to a push rod 104 when the trigger 110 is pulled towards the grip 108. The direction from left-to-right is the distal direction as indicated by arrow 101. A squeeze handle that imparts squeeze-release forward motion to the push rod 104 may be implemented in a variety of ways as would be well-known to those skilled in the art. Some such implementations are used in conventional calk guns. The force to move the push rod 104 may also be supplied by other energy sources such batteries, hydraulic pumps, motors, and other well-known energy sources. A push rod release mechanism is available and well-known for the above mentioned sources of providing a force. For example, a calk guns has a release mechanism that is used when a calk tube is removed from the calk gun.

During manufacturing the proximal end 154 of tube 150 is sealed with a crimped channel 115 as seen in FIG. 1B. Such a channel is the approximately the width of the tube 150 has an opening that is placed over the proximal end of the tube after the filling process is complete (the tube is full). The channel is compressed (or crimped) over proximal end of the tube thereby forming the crimped channel 115 that has flanges protruding from the proximal end of the tube 150. The crimped channel 115 and hence the flanges are made of material that holds its compressed shape so that the contained material is unable to escape from the proximal end 154 of the tube 150. Some tubes may not use a crimped channel and rely on other sealing methods to prevent material from leaking from the proximal end of the tube. The type of seal used on the proximal end of the tube is dependent on the characteristics of the contained material and the pressures that the tube may receive when dispensing the material.

Still referring to FIG. 1B, the push rod 104 is shown coupled to the roller holder 106. A pair of rollers 120 is mounted to the roller holder with one roller on each side of the squeeze tube 150. In FIG. 1B, some material has been squeezed from the tube and the sides of the tube that no longer contains material is shown as parallel dotted lines between the retainer 114 and roller bar 106. One roller of the roller bar pair is in contact with one side of the squeeze tube and the other roller is in contact with the other side of the squeeze tube. When force is applied via the squeeze handle 112 the rollers are urged in the distal direction and material is forced out of the dispensing end or distal end 152 of the tube 150. The retainer 114 grips the proximal end of the tube and secures the tube to the frame 102.

An exemplary embodiment of the dispensing apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 2. The grip 108 and the trigger 110 form the squeeze handle 112. When the trigger 110 is pulled toward the grip 108, the push rod 104 is forced to move in the distal direction using any of the well-known or future force translation techniques available for caking guns or similar devices. Although the push rod 104 is shown with a round shape other shapes, such as a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape or other geometrical shapes, may be used for the push rod. Since the known techniques typically have a release means such means will not be discussed herein. However the release means are incorporated within the operation of the disclosed dispensing apparatus as will be seen.

The back or proximal end of retainer 114 is shown attached to one end of the frame 102 with rivets. Other known techniques for attaching the retainer to the frame may be used, such as welding, bolting, screwing, bonding with adhesives and other methods. The distal end of the retainer has an opening for receiving the proximal end of the tube 150. At least one bolt (two are shown) is used to inwardly force the sides of the retainer 114 for gripping the squeeze tube. The push rod 104 extends through openings in both the distal end and proximal end of the frame 102. The push rod is not attached to the retainer, but moves by the retainer when force is applied to the push rod.

At the distal end of the push rod 104 a coupling is provided to attach the roller holder 106 to the push rod. As seen in FIG. 2 the roller pair 120 is comprised of a fixed roller 122 and an insertable roller 124. The insertable roller 124 fits in a tapered slot 123 in the roller holder 106. The tapered slot is dimensioned and oriented so as to force the insertable roller towards the frame 102 when the roller presses against the squeeze tube 150. The insertable roller bar 124 make possible an easy installation or removal of the tube 150 into or from the retainer 114. The tapered slot 123 provides the means for securing the insertable roller 124 within the roller holder 106 when the dispensing apparatus is forcing material from the dispensing end of squeeze tube 150.

FIG. 3 illustrates more details of the retainer 114 and push rod 104 at the distal end of the frame. The push rod 104 is shown going through an opening in the frame 102. The retainer has a flat plate 116 welded to the frame and a lipped plate 115 secured to the flat plate with bolt. A wing nut is shown on the threaded end of the bolt and is used to squeeze the distal end of the lipped plate towards the distal end of the flat plate. As the ends of the plate are squeezed together that secure the squeeze tube (not shown) to the frame 102.

A detailed drawing of the retainer is illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Although two bolts 116, 119 are shown for squeezing the plates together, in another embodiment only one bolt is needed. The lip of the lipped plate 115 causes the distal ends of both plates to taper inward, as shown in FIG. 4B thereby securing the proximal end 154 of the tube 150 within the retainer 114. A view hole 131 in the flat plate 130 allows a user to check and adjust the position of the proximal end of the tube before tightening the wing nuts. Variations in the retainer include exchanging the location of the lipped plate and the flat plate. In another embodiment a modified hinge provided the offset to make a tapered grip in the retainer for holding the tube. Both plates could be flat if a high friction surface was used to contact the tube. A variety of retainer designs would fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

To better understand the function of the tapered slot on the roller holder 106 refer to FIG. 5. The push rod 104 is shown secured to the proximal end of the holder 106. Near the distal end of the holder is fixed roller 122 that is held between the sides of the holder. The insertable roller 124 comprises a shaft with a roller contained on the shaft. The insertable roller 124 placed in the tapered slot 140 after the tube is coupled and secured to the retainer. When the push rod 104 moves in the distal direction the tube forces the insertable roller 124 to move in the proximal direction. As long as force is maintained on the push rod, the end of the tapered slot and the tube serve as a clamp that holds the insertable roller 124 within the tapered slot 140.

In order to better understand the functionality and novelty of the present disclosure, a method embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6. The first step, step 610, is to attach the proximal end of the tube to the frame with retainer 114. Step 610 comprises loosening the wing nuts of the retainer enough to allow the proximal end of the tube 150 to be inserted within the retainer 114 and then tightening the wing nuts when the tube has the desired alignment. Next, step 620, one side of the tube near the proximal end of the tube is placed against the fixed roller 122 attached roller holder 106. In order to position the fixed roller as desired, it may be necessary to release the push rod so that the rod is free to move in both the proximal direction and distal direction. After the tube is position against the fixed roller as described in step 620, the insertable roller 124 is inserted in the tapered slot and rests against the other side of the tube, step 630. Next, step 640, the trigger of the squeeze handle 112 is moved toward the grip of the squeeze handle. The movement of the trigger provides a force for moving the push rod in the distal direction thereby effectively locking the insertable roller between the tube and the end of the tapered slot. When the distal end (the dispensing end) 152 of the tube is open, material in the tube is dispensed in response to additional trigger squeezes, step 650. Once the tube is empty or otherwise needs to be removed, the push rod 104 may be released and moved backwards allowing the insertable roller 124 to be removed. Loosening the wing nuts on the retainer will allow for removal of the tube from between the plates of the retainer.

The inventor has determined that tubes 150 of a variety of sizes will fit within the apparatus described herein. In addition the inventor has determined that two tubes could be held by the retainer providing a means for dispensing equal amounts of two materials, such as two materials of an epoxy mixture.

It should be further emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims. 

1. An apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube where the squeeze tube has a distal end for dispensing the material and has a proximal end, the apparatus comprising: a frame with a retainer for attaching the proximal end of the tube to the frame, the frame further having a push rod extending in the distal direction wherein the push rod moves in the distal direction in response to a force; a roller holder coupled to the distal end of the push rod; and at least one pair of rollers mounted to the roller holder wherein the rollers when moved in the distal direction compress the sides of the tube thereby forcing material from the tube.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the force is provided by a squeeze handle.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the force is applied by an energy source.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is one roller pair and one roller of the pair is a fixed roller and the other roller is an insertable roller.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer is comprised of two plates that are forced together for gripping the proximal end of the tube.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push rod is allowed to move in the distal direction by a release tab in the frame.
 7. An apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube where the tube has a dispensing end and proximal end, the apparatus comprising: a first roller wherein the first roller is placed on one side of the tube; a second roller wherein the second roller is placed on the other side of the tube opposite the first roller; and a push rod coupled to the rollers wherein the rollers force material from the tube when the push rod moves the rollers towards the dispensing end of the tube.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the push rod extends from a frame and is pushed forward by a force provided by an energy source.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the energy source is a squeeze trigger coupled to the frame.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the distal end of the push rod is coupled to a roller frame and the roller frame holds the rollers.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of the rollers is an insertable roller.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the rollers have a cylindrical shape and turn about an axis.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the proximal end of the tube is coupled to a frame with a retainer and the push rod extends through the frame.
 14. A method for dispensing material from a squeeze tube where the squeeze tube has a distal end for dispensing the material and a proximal end, the method comprising: attaching the proximal end of the tube to a frame; positioning rollers on opposing sides of the tube; and pushing the rollers towards the distal end of the tube, thereby dispensing material from the tube.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the attaching step comprises: placing the proximal end of the tube in a retainer; and pressing the retainer plates together for gripping the tube.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the positioning step comprises; placing a first roller against one side of the tube; and placing a second roller against the other side of the tube.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the pushing step comprises; providing an energy source for pushing the rollers; and applying energy from the energy source for furnishing a pushing force to the rollers.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the pushing force is coupled to the rollers by a push rod and roller holder.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the energy source is a user of the method.
 20. The method of claim 14 wherein the rollers are removed from the sides of tube and the tube is detached from the frame when dispensing is no longer desired. 